Why Jesus Told The Story of The Good Samaritan

By Mary Vee
Luke 10 

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee
Land near Jerusalem

My name is Peter, I am a disciple of Jesus. 

The other eleven disciples and I are traveling with Jesus south toward Jerusalem. We are stopping at villages along the way where Jesus is teaching all who come to hear.

Outside one village several rabbis sat among the people. These rabbis are intelligent men, trained in the Holy Scriptures.

One of these rabbis stood. He whispered to the other rabbis then said to Jesus, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

As a trained rabbi he would have had an answer for any citizen who asked the same question. He only asked Jesus to test him.

"What is written in the Law?" Jesus replied. "How do you interpret the answer to that question?"

The rabbi said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. Also, Love your neighbor as yourself." 

"You have answered correctly," said Jesus. "Do this and you will live."

The rabbi talked with the other rabbis again. They seemed to want to justify how they lived and what they did. "Tell me teacher, who is my neighbor?"

The other rabbis laughed softly. 

Jesus said, "I will answer you with a story. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when a band of robbers attacked him. They tore his clothes away from him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

"A priest happened to be going down the same road. When he saw the man, he passed by on the other side."

I thought, this made sense because the priest is not to touch a dead person.

"A Levite walked the same road and crossed to the other side like the priest.

"The sun bore down on the beaten man. He wanted water desperately. After some time, a Samaritan traveled on the same road. He saw a man on the road ahead and ran to him. 'What has happened?'

"'Robbers took everything I have then beat me.'

Photo by Mary
Land near Jerusalem

"The Samaritan felt pity for the injured man. He opened his supplies and took out bandages, oil, and wine and attended to the man's injuries. When he finished, he lifted the man and placed him on his donkey. 

The Samaritan led the donkey to the nearest inn. He took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Care for this injured man. When I return, I will reimburse you for any other costs you may have.''

Jesus said to the rabbi who asked the question, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?"

The rabbi said, "The one who had mercy on the beaten man."

Jesus then said, "Go and do the same for others."

The answer surprised the rabbi. He returned to his friends. 

They stood and walked away.

Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

What Made Jesus Happy

By Mary Vee
Matthew 11, Luke 10 

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee
Land near Jerusalem

My name is Peter, I am a disciple of Jesus. 

The other eleven disciples and I have been listening to the seventy men sent out by Jesus to villages ahead of us. They had just returned. Their happy faces showed how much they enjoyed their journey.

They told stories of people who listened to the Gospel, and those who did not. They told about the wonderful people who let them stay in their homes and fed them. There were also those who had turned them away as though they were nothing more than a rabid dog.

It was these stories that seem to bring Jesus' next response. He said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. Thank you for hiding your mysteries from the wise and intellectual. You have chosen to reveal your truth to those who are like little children, eager to learn because their heart seeks truth. Yes, Father, your ways are full of grace."

He explained to us that His happiness came from the Holy Spirit. "My Father has given me everything. No one knows the full identity of the Son except the Father. The Son fully reveals the Father to whomever He wishes."

Photo by Mary
Land near Jerusalem

By this time, a great crowd had gathered around us. Jesus turned to his disciples and spoke softly for only us to hear, "How privileged you are to see what you have seen. Many prophets and kings have longed for this day to see what you see and hear what you have witnessed."

Jesus held his arms out to us and said, "Come to me all of you who are tired and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. If you walk with me, I will show you how to live with grace. I won't give you anything difficult. If you learn from me, you will know the way to walk the rest of your life. I will give you peace."


Jesus sat on the ground and all who had gathered there did the same, excited to hear what he would say.

Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

What Does A Missionary Do?

By Mary Vee
Matthew 11, Luke 10 

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee
Land near Jerusalem

My name is Peter, I am a disciple of Jesus. By that I mean I am one of the close, twelve disciples. There are many many more followers of Jesus who are His disciples as well.

In my last post, I told the story of how Jesus had healed the ten lepers. Once the men left, Jesus called all his followers for a meeting. 

More than seventy huddled close to hear what Jesus had to say. 

"I have instructed you, teaching and showing you what My Father expects of His followers."

Jesus motioned to a group of men to separate from the others. It looked like seventy or seventy-two men. "You are to go in groups of two ahead of me into every town and place. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field. Go. I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Don't take a wallet or suitcase or new shoes. Don't stop to chat with anyone on the road. Your journey cannot be delayed.

"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him. If the man is not peaceful, your peace will return to you. Stay in the house that first welcomes you. Eat and drink whatever they give you. This is your wage for your work. Don't go from house to house for lodging. Stay at the same home. 

"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick and tell them this message: 'The kingdom of God is near you.' 

"If you enter a town that does not treat you well, go into its streets and say, 'We wipe off the dust of your town that sticks to our feet. Know this, the kingdom of God is near.' 

"The town that treats you rudely will be punished more than Sodom. If the miracles performed in Korazin, Capernaum, and Bethsaida had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago. The people would have put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. Tyre and Sidon will have an easier time at the judgment than those cities who rejected me.

"Anyone who listens to your message listens to me. The one who rejects you rejects me. That person who rejects me rejects Him who sent me. Now go. Spread the message to everyone you see. Teach them what I have taught you."

Photo by Mary
Land near Jerusalem

  
Some days later the seventy-two disciples returned. They laughed and had so much to say! 

"Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." They seemed very proud of their work.

Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you. Rejoice instead that your names are written in heaven."

Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

The Unexpected Thank You

By Mary Vee
Luke 17 

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee
Land near Jerusalem

My name is Peter, I am a disciple of Jesus.

The other disciples and I walked with Jesus to the south toward Jerusalem along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 

We happened upon a village and turned when ten men call out to us. The men kept their distance but shouted, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"





In our time, men and women with leprosy were not allowed in the cities. The disease is highly contagious. Before a leper can enter a city they must have the approval of the priest who first examines the individual for signs of the disease. If they are cured they will receive approval to enter the city. If they are not healed, they won't be allowed in through the city gates.

Jesus said to the men, "Go to the priest and show yourselves." 

As they walked away their bodies became whole. The leprosy had left them.

One man stopped walking. He looked at his hands, turning them side to side. He touched his face. He sprang up into the air and shouted, "I am healed!" He turned and ran to Jesus. This is important. If he had any leprosy the law states he could not walk near any person. 

The man fell at Jesus' feet and wept. "Thank you. Thank you for healing me." He lifted his eyes and praised God in a loud voice. 

Photo by Mary
Land near Jerusalem

This man was a Samaritan. Samaritans and Jews did not get along well. Yet this man, cleansed of his leprosy approached Jesus, born a Jew, and thanked Him. At this moment, the man was one who had a disease and Jesus, the Son of God, healed him.

Jesus said, "Weren't all ten of you healed from leprosy? Where are the other nine? They were Jews. You were the only Samaritan. Didn't they come with you?"

The man didn't answer. He continued to weep and thank God for healing him.



Jesus said, "Stand. Go to your family and home. Your faith has made you well."

He stood and walked toward the temple. A few steps farther he turned back with a very happy smile and said, "Thank you."  

Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.